Means for operating gang-plows.



NQ. 819,423. PATBNTED MAY 1, 190s.

` WY.GRBG0RY.

MEANS FOR OPERATING GANG PLOWS.

APPLICATION FILED-AUG. 7, 1905.' 1 l G 4 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

No. 819,423.V PATENTED MAY 1, 1906. W. GREGORY.

I MEANS FOR OPERATING GANG PIJ-OWS.

, APPLIGATION FILED AUG. 7, 1905.

4 SHEETS-'SHEET 2.

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No. 819,423. PATENTEN MAY 1, 190e. W. GNBGGRNL MEANS PON OPERATING GANG PLoWs.

APPLIGATIGN FILED AUG. 7. 1905.

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. mura 'srrirns PAfrnNr orrion WALTER GREGQRY, oF MINNEAPoLis, MINNESOTA. MEANsjr-on OPERATING GANG-FLOWS.

No. 819,423. y

To all uff/.nm it 711,0,7/ concern:

Be it known that I, WALTER GREGORY, of Minneapolis, Hennepin county, Minnesota, have invented certain new and useful 'Improvements in Means for Operating Gang- Flowsl of .which thefollowing is a specification.'

This invention relates to improvements in gang-plows, and preferably to such plows as are drawn by a traction-engine.

The object I Ihave in view is to provide means whereby' the plows may be `raised in succession one after another when the 'gang of plows reaches the end of the eld being part of this specification, Figure 1 is a plan view of a gang of plows embodying my invention. Fig. 2 is a detail plan view, on a larger scale, showing one of the plows and the: means for connecting the operating mechanism. Fig. 3 is a side elevation of one of the plows and the means for raising and lowering the same. Fig. 4 is a detail side elevation showing the lifting device when out of operation. Fig. 5 is an end elevation of the parts shown in Fig, 4. tion of the parts shown in Fig. 4, but shown in the act of raising a plow. Fig. 7 is a detail side 'elevation of the means for operating the lifting devices. of the same. Fig.

9 is an elevation of one of the shortl shafts.

lof the couplings.

In the drawings, 2 represents a suitable -f frame or platform, preferably of substantiallytriangular form mounted upon a suitable axle 3, supported upon driving-wheels 4. The rear of the frame is provided with a suitable supporting-wheel 6. supporting axle and wheels forma carriage adapted to be hauled across the field to be plowed by a traction-engine or other suitable means, the carriage being provided at its forward end forthe purpose of couplingit with.; f' V.atraction-engine with a suitable cou-plingtj If preferred, a water-tank 8 for the engine may be mounted upon this carriage, or the Specification of Letters Patent.

ippiicamn filed August 7.1905. serai No. 273.024.

. plow-beam, and wheels Fig. 6 is a detail side eleva- Fig; 8"is an end elevation- Figs. 10 and 11 are details .parts are in the position s This platform and its Patented May 1, 1906.

- carriage maybe used for transporting anything that it is desired to use 1n connection with the engine or plows. The platform is .provided with the parallel bars or beams 9 and 10, which form a part of said platform and ,also-provide a draft-bar for the series of y plows.

Arranged rin the rear ofthe beam 10 are the l `veach consisting of the parallel bars 12 12, between which The upper bar 12 is preferably formed ofl ends turned so as to extend parallel with the 14 are 'mounted to turn freely on short shafts 15, secured inthe ends of said bars. By this meansV the carriages 11 are flexibly connected together and are adapted to adjust themselves to uneven surfaces of the ground uponA which the machine is used. The beamlO is provided with a depending standard 16, and connecting` rods 17 are pivoted to said standards and also to the carriage-bars 12. These connectingrods are preferably attached near each end of each carriage,'and by this means said carriages are drawn Aover the ground'with thev frame or platform 2. I provide a series of plows 18, which may 'be'of any usual or preferred,` construction. Any number of said `plows may be em loyedwith one machine.

ows" connected to a:

I have shown twe ve pl single platform; but more or less may be used, aspreferred. The forward end of each plow-beam is pivotally connected to a plate .19, adapted to slide between the guide and coupling plates 13. For the purpose of releasably connecting said plates to the carriages 11 I provide a coupling-rod 20, having a hook 21 adapted to pass through an opening 22 in the -free end enga riage. Theot er end of the is provided with a sprin 24, whic .bears against the carriage, whi e its o posite end is engaged by a nut 25, adjustab y arranged on the end of thecouplin y own in Fig. the drawings,the plow 18 carriage 1 1 and will remain so coupled so long as the strain upon the plow does not-overplate 19 and to have 'its ed with a lug 23 on the carcouplin -rod -rod. When'the 3 of is coupled tothe carriages 1 1, preferably four in number, and

are arranged the guide and coupling plates 13.

angle-iron with its Icov come the tension of the spring 24. Should the plow strike a stone or other obstruction',

caused by such obstruction is greater than 1. 1hc. tension of the spring 24 the coupling-rod- .fwill sliden its bearings until the end of the hook 21 is disengaged from the lug 23 when the hook will y 'out of the hole 22 and the plow will be released. By this means the' .danger of breaking plows when they strike stones or other obstructions is overcome.

For the purpose of' bracing eachplow so as to prevent it from being swung toward the land, I provide a brace-bar 26, which has its rear end secured to the plow-beam by a clamp 27, and its slotted forward end engages a bolt 28 upon one of the carriages 11.

`This bolt'is preferably arranged upon the next succeeding guide and coupling plate 13.

(See Fig. 2.) ln each instance I have shown the brace-bar 26 so arranged except in connection with'the last plow of the series, and in this case the forward end of the brace-bar 26 is engaged with the axle 15 of the last car raising the plows in succession one after an-' riage-wheel 14. (See Fig. 1'.) y

The means that I prefer te employ for other, so that the ends of furrows will all be even or inline with one another, are preferably driven fronr one of the platform-wheels andv consists, essentially, of a series of "pick` ups which liftor pick up the plows in succession, one after another, the interval between the lifting of one plow and the lifting of the succeeding plow being suflicient to cause said `plows to be raised at the same .point over the surface of the ground, thereby causing the ends of the furrows to all be sub-'1 stantially in line one with another.

Mounted in suitable standards upon the frame of the machine is a rotatable shaft con sisting of a series of short. shaft-sections arranged in linel with one another andvcoupled together, so that as the first section is rotated -engagevthe annular groove in the ne'xt succeeding shaft-section. (See Figs. 10 and 1'1.) With this construction each shaft-section is permitted a partial revolution (as here shown.

substantially a 'half-revolution) before the next succeeding shaft-section'begins torotate. I provide the standards 37 for each shaft=section, IIsee Fig. 8,) and upon eachof said shaft-sections I arrange an eccentric 38, upon which is mounted, so as to turn freely thereon, a disk or pulley 39. The disks) 39 are each free torotate upon the correspond 'ing'eccentric 38, such rotation changing the position of said disk or pl lley in relation 'to the shaftbearingfl stadardsi37V are secured. Secured to the shaft-section 31 in proximity to each disk 39 is= a suitable'hub carrying two oppositelyprojecting arms 40.y This hub is fast on the shaft-section, so as to rotate therewith. Upon having along weighted arm42. preferably pivoted between theface of the disk 39 and a1lug'43 secured'to'the edge of .saiddisk and extending over'said arm.

Arf ranged below said shaft and disk isaninclined block44, and mounted in bearings in the shaftstandards 37 is ashort shaft 45, having upon one end a crank-arm 46. and upon its other end a crank-arm 47. A small wheel 48 lis arranged between the upper surface ofthe block 44 and the'edge ofithe .70 v theface of the pulley 39 is a pivoted dogv 41,

This arm 1s grooved disk or pulley 39p. (See Figs. 4,'5, and

6.) A rod 49 connects the axis ofthis wheel l' with the crank-arm 47. A spring 50 is connected to the end of the crank 46 and tov 'a pin or stud on one of the standards37. f (See Figs. 4 and 6.)` The shaft 45 may be turned so as to carry the end of the 'crank-arm 46 above or .below the center of the shaft,` and when said shaft is turned so ,as tocarryv the end of' the crank-arm 46 past the center the' movement of said shaft will be completed by the spring 50, and said crank-arm will be held in either limit of its position by said pin.v

The endof the shaft 45 is also provided with anarm 51, extending upward and adapted to be raised into position in proximity to the` v face of the disk 39 opposite that to which the arm 41 is pivoted. (See Figs. 4, 5, and 6.) A lug 52 is provided on this face of the disk in position to engagethe arm 51 when it standsv in an upright 'position (see Fig. 4) and to move said arm downward as the disk 39 is rotated until thecrank-arm 46 passes the center, when the tension of the spring 50 will turn the shaft 45 into the position shown in Fig. 6 of the drawings.

It 'is also necessary to provide means for turning the shaft 45 into the reverse position when the shaftsections 31 are given'a reverse movement. For this purpose I provide a short shaft -53 inl one of the standards 37 and upon the ends of this shaft arrange the arms 54 and.55. Upon a reverse movement of the shaft-section 31 the arm 54 will be engaged by the arm 40 on said shaft, and thereby the shaft 45 will be turned from the position shown in Fig. 6 to that shown in Fig. 4. When the parts stand in the position shown in Fig. 4, the wheel 48 is near the upper end of the block 37 and, resting upon said block, does not come incontact with the edge of the wheel or disk 39. When said parts are in the position shown in Fig. 6

of the drawings, the wheel 48 is drawn into engagement with the'edge of the disk 39 and being wedged between the block 44 and the edge of said disk locks the disk in. any posif .ti'on which it'l may occupy. vA spring-dog56 '1s arranged upon; a platform inproximity to ach disli`39.` and in position to engage the short end of each ivoted arm 41'.` (See Fig. 4.)

I A suitable cab 'to the disk 39,v and said'cable then passes over a guide-pulley 58, supported upon the beams 9, and 1s connectedto the plow-beam by a link or coupling 60. Mounted loosely u pon the first shaft-section are the two beve ed or mit'er ears 61 and 62, and secured upon said sha -section`are the clutches 63 and 64. An idler .miter-gear 65 is mounted upon a suitable two ears 61 and 62. The shaft-sections are capa le of a slight longitudinal movement in r 5 their bearings, A shifting-lever 66'is pivoted u pon the. frame of the machine and connectwith oneof said shaft-sections, .`(see Fig.I

. 1,) and by means of this lever all of the shaftsections can be movedlongitudinally in their bearings, thereby lockin or the pinion 62 to the s is rotated from the axle 3 by means of ysuitable s rocket-,wheels and the chains 67'and 68. suitable clutch ver 70, is provided, so that said shaft ma be at any time disconnected from the axle fythe machine. 1 Operation: The parts being in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings and 1t being desired to raise the lows, the lever 66 is' moved into the position slibwn in Fig. 1 .ofthe drawings, thereby'locking the gear 62 to the shaft and causing said shaft to be rotated'. The

movement of the shaft by the lever 66 bringsl to the face of the wheel or the arms 40 close pulley 39 and into the arm 41. 'The wheels 39 will at this time all be standing -in the position shown in Fig. 4 of the drawings, and the locking-wheel 48 will be out of contact with the face of the wheel 39. As theshaft rotates one of the arms 40 the pivoted arm 41, (see engages one end of dotted lines, Fig. 4,) and thereby the wheel 39 is caused to move with said .arm and shaft. The cable 57 will be partially wound upon the cable is connected will belifted low reaches thereby holding the plow in its highest'or elevated position. Each disk 39 is operated in turn, and thereby all of the plows are raised from the ground and the raising mechanism is locked, thereb reventing the dropping of the plows untiltllie operator desires tobegin n'ew furrows. g When it is desired to return the plows to the ground, .the lever 661s 6 5 moved to the opposite position, thereby move 57 has one end attached i' support and meshes with the either the pinion 61 said plows aft. The pinion 62 69, operated b y a le.

for raising t e plows of the gangin succession,

'upon said platform plane of the pivoted edge of the disk or pulley 39, and the plow'toghest point to which it 1s desired to` .tlng each section to ymake a ore moving thenext succeedmg se'ctlon,

the arms 41l and 54. The locking-wheels are thereby released and the Weight of the plows causes them to descend and the parts to be restored to their normal position, which is that shown in Figs.

4 and 5 of the drawings. The plows are returned to the ground 'in the same order in which they are raised-that is to say,the first plow is dropped first and the others in succession thereafter-so that the beginnings of the furrows are all in line with 'one another. The details of the construction may obviously be varied in many particulars without departing from my invention.

I claim as my invention#- 1. The combination, with'a series of plows constituting a gang, means connected with or moving the same, and poweroperated means for lifting said plows 1n 4succession, clear of the ground upon which they are peratin substantially as described.

2. A gan -plow and power-operated means for the purpose set forth.

3. The combination, with suitable plat-` form and Wheels supporting the same, of a 4gan of plows arrangedto be drawn by said plat orm. as the same is moved over the ground, and power-o erated means arranged succession, substantially-as describe 4. The combination, with a suitable plat.'- form and its supporting-wheels, of a series of or raising said (plows in` ICO plows connected withsaid platform and arranged to be drawn thereby, and means arranged upon said platform and operated from theaxle thereof for liftin said plows in succession, substantially as escribed.

5. The combination, with a suitable platform and supporting-wheels therefor, of aj 'gang of plows connected with said platform, and power-operated means arranged upon said platform for. lifting said lows 1n successionhfrom the ground, for t e purpose set ort form and supporting-wheels therefor, of a series of plows arranged in the rear of said plat- IIO 6. The combination, with a suitable plati of said sections and connected witht e correspending plow.

' '7. The combination, withasuitable frame or platform, therewith, a

saidframe or platformand formed of a series of-a series of plows connected rotatable. shaft arranged upon of shaft-sections connected together by suitablev couplings, means permitting each secupon ,eaoh shaft-section, and `connectingV l form 'and'oonneoted 'therewth, 'e rotatable tion to make apartial rotation befoe Athe nextsubeedng section, a Wheel or pulley means 'between4 each pulley' and' the porre spendingfplowpeubstantelly es desorbed.-

8. The Combination, with e suitable pla-tf' form end'supportngzwheels therefor, of eeeries of plows arranged in, the meer of sedlpla-ste shaft aamgedupon'sad platform and vformeel of aj'se'mesof shaft-sections connected togethelglfyr 'suitable couplings, means permite ting 'each eeton-toanalie a---pertial rotation before mo'rin" the next succeeding-section, a wheel or 'pul ey upon each shaft-seotom-e flexibleioonneetou between each pulley andv the oo'xresponding 10W',y and means. folooking each pulley wit position, substantially as desoribed. 1

9. A ganglow, and means oreutomatothe plow in an elevated ally raisingl t e .plows of the afgang in succes# sion, for the purr ose Aset forth.

l0.l A ang-p ow, vand meens,...under the Qontrol of the Aoperotoxg,foreutomatically raising 1theV plowsof the gang in succession'.

, In witnes'swhereof I have hereunto set my band this 31st dey of July, A1905.

' WALTER GREGORY -Wt'neses A. C. PAUL, C. G. HAqsoN. 

